Originally built in 1934, under the guise of a Training Establishment for Deutscher Luftsportverband (D.L.V.). Because of the rapid expansion of the "Training Programme" and increase in the size of the aircraft, external landing strips were built at Hustedt and Scheuen, with "Blind Flying" training transferrd to Wesendorf. More details
here
The RAF when they were in Celle were based at Wietzenbruch air base, which is on the outskirts of Celle.
An extremely busy airfield during the Berlin Airlift. RAF
Vampires flew here in the 1950s.
A reference gives the name as possibly being Immelmann Kaserne before it was taken over by the British in 1945. It originally only played a secondary role as an airbase until the onset of the Berlin Airlift, when it was taken over by the American Forces, being handed back in 1949. During this time the base was extended, the runway given a tarmac surface, and a rail siding added. Mention of the name is shown
here and
here
From 1950 onwards, the RAF staioned various squadrons at RAF Celle, details of which to follow. The base was handed back to the German Army Aviators Corp in 1957
Amongst the RAF Squadrons based there was 652/659 AOP Sqns whose role was to provide close Artillery Observation and Reconnaisance to Army units they were equipped with Auster light aircraft and Skeeter helicopters. Some of the pilots were Army personnnel on secondment to the RAF. With the formation of the Army Air Corps in 1958, these units were transfered to Army command and rebadged forming part of 1 Wing AAC. Aircraft maintenance was to remain an RAF responsibility for a further decade but on transfer 73 Aircraft Workshop REME assumed responsibility. These Army units remained in Celle when the RAF Operational Squadrons transferred to the newly opened Clutch Aifields, close to the Dutch border, however a further reorganisation of AAC assets and associated REME support in the 1970s marked the end of the British military presence on Celle airfield.
Mr Peter Watson